A Protein-Packed Summer Salad

In our Bloggers Cook BA column, see how our recipes turned out in other cooks' kitchens. Every week we choose a dish that several food bloggers made and feature it here with photos and links. Share your own experience; submit your blog.

Going Beyond Cookies: "This salad is an excellent way to use up all of the extra zucchini around in August. Not only does it require only minimal cooking, but it also tastes lovely. The olive oil and lemon dressing complement the fresh herbs perfectly and the chickpeas and quinoa make this salad filling enough to be a vegetarian main course. I am very happy to add it to my arsenal of cold summer salads."

Ladle and Lens: "The description of the salad stuck with me the entire day. So when dinner time did finally roll around, there was no question what I was going to make...It read just as straight forward and easy as Judy had suggested. Not all of the ingredients graced my kitchen but I figured I could ad lib using the original recipe as my base."

The Paleo Foodie: "While there has been some debate as to whether or not quinoa is actually paleo...It is high in protein, fat and amino acids, and is considered quite nutritious. On top of that it tastes good...Here I used fresh summer squash and citrus to make a refreshing salad that can be a side dish or a hearty vegan main."

Umamicity: "We liked it so much we had to make it at home. It works really well as a side dish, but our inability to stop after a small portion makes it an entree here."

Laine's Recipe Box: "Zucchini and summer squash are abundant and inexpensive this time of year, but I get to dress it up with excellent Sherry vinegar and top-notch Parmesan, turning an economical blank canvas vegetable into a vibrantly flavored dish. An abundance of fresh herbs gives a burst of freshness, walnuts lend richness and crunch, lemon juice and Sherry vinegar a subtle piquant accent, with a bed of quinoa providing enough heft to make this into a light, but satisfying, meal. Whether you follow this to the letter or use it as a template, this recipe can surely find a way to satisfying your culinary needs in these last summer days."

Tammy Circeo: "I didn't initially think it would be a full meal salad. Certainly, it would pose nicely as a starter salad, but truth be told, a double serving took me very clearly through the afternoon...You mix all of that together and you have yourself a salad that is fit for a king.""

Sippity Sup: "This is a pretty side dish or meatless main dish perfect for summer. The only cooking involves boiling water, so there's no standing over a hot stove. Use small squash for the best flavor and presentation. Quinoa and walnuts (or a grain and nut of your choosing) add a satisfying heft."

Can't get enough grain salads this summer? We don't blame you--they're bright, fresh, and, most importantly, they require minimal schlepping over a hot stove. So here's one more to try before the season's over. It's got squash, walnuts, and the darling of the grain world, quinoa. Here's what bloggers thought of the dish. **